Gay beat Bolt at the Diamond League DN Galan 100 meters in 9.84 seconds. Bolt finished second in 9.97. While Gay's time was shy of Bolt's world record of 9.58s, the AP reports that Gay was "in control" from the start and Bolt looking visibly tired toward the end.

This was Bolt's first loss in two years and at the same Stockholm stadium where he last lost a race two years ago. "Part of the shock of Bolt's loss in Stockholm -- in the hours after the race Bolt was the top trending topic on Twitter -- is due in large part to the ridiculously high bar he has set," adds Universal Sports. "Six world records, six global championship medals in two years, and 27 consecutive race victories created an aura of invincibility around the 24-year-old. It turns out the winning machine is human after all. 'I'm not unbeatable,' Bolt said. 'I can be beaten and it showed today.'"

Jamaica's Asafa Powell, who rounds out the top three fastest men in the world, did not participate because of a back injury. The 100 meters rematch is scheduled for August 27 in Brussels. Watch the dramatic race AFTER THE JUMP...

25 April 2010

Superstar sprinter Usain Bolt helps the Jamaica Gold team set speed and crowd records at the Penn Relays. The three-time Olympic gold medalist lived up to his fitting last name Saturday in Philadelphia, "with a lightning fast final leg" of the men's 4 x 400m relay to win gold.

'Bolt [took] the baton in a near dead heat, then overtaking USA Blue's
Ivory Williams to win. A quartet of
Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson and Bolt finished in 37.90
seconds for Jamaica Gold, setting a competition record. Bolt took a
perfect handoff from Anderson and blazed for the final 100 meters to a
raucous ovation. Bolt's dash lasted an unofficial, but
exhilarating 8.79 seconds."

08 April 2010

In the April 2010 Esquire, Luke Dittrich profiles Jamaican track phenom and "the fastest man on the planet" entitled "Usain Bolt: Mutant." It hit subscribers two weeks ago and the article is finally available online. The accompanying sensual black and white photo of the Jamaican sprinter is by London-based photographer Nadav Kander.

There's also bonus video which shows (an eventually shirtless) Usain Bolt practicing his
post-victory dance. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

21 August 2009

There is some major tongue action at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. Sticking the tongue out and licking the lips a la LL Cool J was the post-victory swagger popularized by Cuba's Dayron Robles and Britain's Phillips Idowu at the Beijing Olympics. Now all the track and field hotness are doing it.

Phillips Idowu displays his latest tongue piercing after winning gold in the triple jump. German decathlete Norman Müller shows what he's working with (wow) and American Wallace Spearmon licks his lips in victory after winning bronze in the 200 meters. AFTER THE JUMP, more track and field tongue action. Whatever they're suggesting, there are probably many men very willing to help..

Tyson Gay's run of 9.71 was a new U.S. record. Unfortunately it was only good enough for silver. Jamaica's Asafa Powell claimed bronze in 9.84. AFTER THE JUMP, watch video of Usain Bolt break the world record. And a few more images, too. Was it the magic orange slippers? Becaue I am so getting a pair of the street version ....

The Jamaican Bolt donned new bright orange spikes clocked a comfortable 10.20 seconds. Tyson Gay, the American champ, ran the fastest time in the heats with 10.16 despite a minor groin injury. Gay told reporters: The injury "is a little sore. I did not want to use so much energy. I wanted to play it safe."

WHEN YOU JUMP, video of this morning's qualifiers and more photos of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, both of whom are looking excellent and in "top" form . The competitions are being held at Berlin's Olympic Stadium where Jesse Owens won gold in 1936, hence the "JO" decal seen on Tyson Gay's jersey. The second Usain Bolt video is Japanese commentary, and the second Tyson Gay video is via Eurosport and commentary is in Swedish. Maybe someone can translate?

09 January 2009

Sorry for missing this earlier this week but thank Outsports for the heads up. While the American media and much of the country has become completely obsessed around Michael Phelps—including several of the gay blogs—the International Sports Press Association names Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt the Athlete of the Year.

In a poll by the International Sports Press Association, journalists
from 96 nations gave Bolt a narrow edge of 1673 points to 1557 over
Phelps. Bolt won a three gold medals, setting world records in the 100
meters, 200 and 400 relay to become the star of Beijing's Bird's Nest
stadium. In the Water Cube, Phelps was the outstanding star with a
history-making eight golds in the pool for the United States.

There is absolutely no question both men are stellar athletes. Phelps' eight gold medal sweep was nothing short of amazing. But it was Usain Bolt who probably was the brightest star in Beijing, who broke every record in front of him, with three gold medals and three world records in sprints. Usain Bolt was a lightning bolt on the field.

Lewis: Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested. I'm not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field

SI.com: I don't want to put words in your mouth, but are you accusing Bolt of possibly doing something illegal in order to gain an advantage?

Lewis: No one is accusing anyone. But don't live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. They say, "Oh, we've been great for the sport." No, you have not. No country has had that kind of dominance. I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know. But how dare anybody feel that there shouldn't be scrutiny, especially in our sport?

The reality is that if I were running now, and had the performances I had in my past, I would expect them to say something. I wouldn't even be offended at the question. So when people ask me about Bolt, I say he could be the greatest athlete of all-time. But for someone to run 10.03 one year and 9.69 the next, if you don't question that in a sport that has the reputation it has right now, you're a fool. Period.

Lewis was blunt in his criticism of Team USA's relatively lackluster performance on the track and attempts to rationalize their clumsiness. "I was completely embarrassed that the United States could not pass the baton. I've been in track and field for 40 years and I've seen the baton dropped 10 times, and we dropped it twice in the Olympics. Look, I love Lauryn Williams, but when I read she said the baton had a mind of its own, I honestly said that girl needs to be committed. Are you kidding me? It was her fault."

Oh, and make sure you read the last graph when Carl Lewis criticizes those who compare track athletes to "young people [who] tell me Beyonce is better than so-and-so." Interesting. Do the "children" really say that?